Hey there! I have been reading up on the boards and I still have a few questions. I am looking at a job at ALC in Casablanca. People are saying that I won't be able to put aside any money if I have bills back home.... but my bills are pretty small. If I were getting paid between 8000 and 9000, do you think I could send home at least 150$ a month? (like maybe I could send someone an atm card and they could withdraw the money from the US)

As far as living there... I am pretty well qualified, but my dad doesn't want me out there. I know, I know... I am almost 30 but my father still lets me crash at his place whenever I am stateside.

One more thing: has anyone worked for ALC before? It seems like a decent school... but I hate the working on Saturday thing. Will I really only have one day off a week?

If it's the job posted on Dave's page, then you're going to get a housing stipend too, right? With that and not going out to eat too much you should be able to save 150 dollars a month with no big problem.
Are you sure it's only one day off? In a lot of ALCs the teachers get Sun and Mon off.
About the school: it's a really nice place and I think you'll like working there. Also, tell dad it's an international city and the ALC is in one of the nicest parts of town. The school also has its own security. I think you'll have a good time teaching there. Good luck!

Hod, you poor sod, you didn't really get to see much then if that's all you know of. Casa is quite international - I have met many many Europeans, East Indians, Africans, Asians - more than just Chinese; East Indians, etc. It is a huge international port city. The tiny amount of time you spent here did not enable you to see enough.

This is addressed to Salmacis' concern about there being a US State Dept travel advisory for Morocco. This is because there have been some peaceful demonstrations against the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in Rabat and Marrakesh. I underline the word peaceful. For the US State Dept., I imagine everywhere in the Muslim world appears to be a "danger" for Americans. After reading a recent poll that shows that young South Koreans would trust North Korea sooner than America, you could probably say that world opinion of America has reached another record low. Too bad.
But America (= the Bush administration) is one thing, and an American is another. Moroccans generally like Americans on a personal level. If they don't like American foreign policy these days, they are certainly not alone.
What I'm trying to say is: don't worry. It's far safer here than in most larges cities in the States.

Thsi is to reply to that absurd person whom I would never like to meet or to talk to. Casablanca is a very modern city: international or not, China town or no China Town, Hod you should watch what you say about cities that either you had very little time to explore or very little money to explore. I'm going with my last assumption. And about Algerian cleaners I don't know what your talking about.

Bear in mind that the Moroccan dirham is not a tradeable currency. Unless you utilize the black market to buy dollars, the amount that you will be able to exchange legally probably won't cover your expenses back home.

Your moroccan bank should have enough euros, but give them loads of notice.
The Bank maroc will change dirhams if you bring passport and work permit.
Your moroccan bank might even do an international transfer, but then again...

And that's about it.

Sending it Western Union outside the country - not allowed.
You could change it in Algeciras, Spain, but you'll lose loads on exchange.

p.s. Noureli – Now, in response to my criticising Casa, what did you do? Did you extol its virtues with tales of swimming with dolphins off Ain Diab? Did you wax on about the gastric good times? Na, you just threw all your toys at me, which is a damn sight easier than praising Casa so it seems. Reply with something interesting to say about Casa or put a lid on it.

I'm not sure what Urban K. was referring to but she (?) is right that dirhams are not hard currency. But if you're a foreigner working in Morocco legally (=a work permit and a residence card) you have the right to transfer up to 100 percent of your salary into dollars, or Euros or whatever.

Hod, I did not throw all my toys at you. From the looks of it, expats anywhere in the world have something to complain about. About Casablanca, I hace lived there for 2 years and spent about 6 summers there abd actually in Ain Diab. I'm just saying that you should watch out what you say about cities that you don't know about. I'm still wondering about the Algerian cleaners. Please clarify ......